Are Box Trucks Dangerous? New Jersey Attorneys Explain

Tractor-trailers are not the only dangerous vehicles to watch out for on New Jersey roads. Though smaller, box trucks can be just as dangerous and difficult to control as tractor-trailers when the roads are frozen over. Box trucks have a wider turning radius than a standard car and carry very heavy loads. As such, when New Jersey roads are covered in snow, it is very easy for box trucks to gain too much momentum to stop or engage in evasive maneuvers when necessary.

According to New Jersey, the driver of a white GMC box truck lost control of his vehicle on Route 287 southbound near mile-marker 20.6 around 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2014. The truck driver was unable to stop and collided with the rear end of the tractor-trailer in front of him. The impact mangled the front cab of the box truck, trapping the 18-year-old driver inside. The Bridgewater police dispatchers called in the Green Knoll fire department to extricate the driver from the cab.

“When I arrived, the driver of the cab forward box truck was trapped from the waist down,” said the Green Knoll Fire Chief. “Due to the whiteout conditions, he did not see the trailer until the last minute and had rear-ended the tractor trailer that was maintaining a speed of around 20 miles per hour.” The extrication required collaborative effort from the North Branch and Bradley Gardens Fire Departments. One team of firefighters had to open the cab while the others stabilized the box truck and tractor-trailer.

“One engine tied chains to the back of the box truck and the rescue [team] tied a cable to the front of the trailer,” continued the Green Knoll Fire Chief. “At the time we thought we might have to pull the box truck away from the trailer to work on [the driver], but fortunately we did not have to do that.” Given the young age of the box truck driver, the accident most-likely resulted from a lack of experience driving heavy loads through inclement weather conditions.

I Need A Truck Accident Attorney In New Jersey

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by an inexperienced or careless truck driver, our Middlesex County injury lawyers can help. The Spevack Law Firm has extensive experience defending the victims of truck accidents, bringing justice to those responsible and recovering the full compensation that the victims’ need to get their lives back on track. For more information on how we can assist with your particular case, reach out to us. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Middlesex County injury lawyers, contact our office  today at (732) 636-3030.

[Did You Know: According to the NJ Transportation Department, surprisingly, only 1.7 percent of crashes occurred due to snow in 2012.]

Spevack Law Firm- Middlesex County personal injury lawyers

Source: http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2014/02/truck_rams_tractor_trailer_on_rt_287_in_bridgewater_traps_driver_state_police_say.html, http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/accident/12/ARDSMRPT01.2012.pdf

Iselin Office

Woodbridge Township
525 Green Street
Iselin, NJ 08830

Shrewsbury

1161 Broad St., Suite 318
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
(by appointment only)

New Brunswick

5 Elm Row, Suite 104
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(by appointment only)

Working Hours

Mon-Fri: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

Sat: 9:00AM - 2:00PM

Sunday: Closed

Call Us Today

(732) 636-3030

AVAILABLE 24/7 FOR NEW CASES!

Request A Consultation

web design nj